Digital Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing and digital marketing are both effective marketing strategies, but their effects differ. They vary in four areas: scope, focus, services offered, and target audience.

1. Scope

In social media marketing, the focal point is creating and executing marketing through different social media platforms. 

The main goal of using social media marketing is to use social media platforms only to increase brand awareness and engagement and generate leads or sales for the brand or business. 

Coca-Cola, for example, used social media marketing by posting on a social media platform, specifically Facebook, to market their product to the platform's users.

Digital marketing, on the other hand, includes a broader range of online marketing strategies, including social media, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, content marketing, affiliate marketing, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and more. 

Overall, in terms of scope, social media marketing is just a branch of digital marketing that focuses on social media platforms, while digital marketing covers a wider range of online marketing activities and channels.

2. Focus

Social media marketing primarily targets platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. It involves content creation, account management, advertising, and engaging with the target audience on these platforms.

According to Sprout Social, 55% of consumers learn about brands and businesses through social media. 

So, incorporating social media marketing will likely be a good strategy to grow your brand since it is a place of discovery for consumers. 

While, as previously stated, digital marketing encompasses a broader range of marketing strategies, it also includes all types of marketing activities that use digital technology.

It focuses on reaching the target audience through a variety of online channels, including search engines, email marketing, content marketing, and social media.

Lita Lewis Fitness used email marketing to reconnect with subscribers, share updates, and announce a new project—an excellent example of digital marketing.

3. Services Offered

Both social media marketing and digital marketing aim to increase brand awareness and generate sales, but they differ in terms of the services they offer. 

Social media marketing agencies typically include services like the following: 

• Social media strategy development

• Content creation

• Social media management

• Social media advertising

• Influencer marketing

• Analytics and reporting

On the other hand, digital marketing offers a more comprehensive range of services, including the following: 

• SEO services to improve organic search visibility

• Email marketing campaigns to nurture leads

• PPC advertising for instant visibility and traffic

• Content marketing to attract and engage with customers

• Web design and development

• Analytics and data analysis

The following are some of the top digital marketing agencies around the world, according to Cloudways: 

• WebFX

• Dream Theory

• The Bigger Boat

• Creative Sponge

• Web Windows Marketing Limited

• Over The Top SEO

4. Target Audience

Social media marketing agencies often target businesses and clients who want to establish or enhance their brand solely on social media platforms and leverage them for their own marketing purposes. 

Digital marketing agencies aim to help businesses of all sizes and industries build or improve their online presence, increase website traffic, generate leads, and increase sales via various digital channels.

Disruptive Advertising, for example, is a digital marketing agency that provides a variety of digital marketing services to businesses, including SEO, email management, and Facebook ads.

Wrapping Up: Digital Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing

Understanding social media marketing and digital marketing can give you a higher chance of succeeding in your business marketing campaigns. 

Both tools are crucial for businesses to reach their target audiences, but they have distinct differences.

Social media marketing differs from digital marketing in terms of:

• Scope

• Focus

• Services offered

• Target audience

Choosing between them depends on your business's unique needs and goals.

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